Senior Member of Technical Staff: Navigation, Localization & Structured Perception

Walden Robotics; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual cash bonus

Company equity

Company-subsidized insurance

401(k) with company match

Flexible PTO

Daily lunch

Job summary

Walden Robotics in Cambridge, MA is seeking an experienced robotics software engineer to own navigation, localization, and mapping for our robotic systems. You will transform camera, depth, and LiDAR data into reliable pose estimates and safe paths through dynamic environments.

You will blend classical geometry with learned perception, implement SLAM and state estimation, and collaborate with AI, controls, and hardware teams to deliver robust, field-tested systems.

Qualifications

• Proven experience building localization, SLAM, or navigation for real robots.
• Strong understanding of state estimation, filtering, and multi-sensor fusion.
• Proficient in C++ and Python with robust, production-grade robotics software.

Responsibilities

• Own localization, mapping, and navigation stacks for deployed robots.
• Fuse data from cameras, depth sensors, LiDAR, and IMUs into accurate estimates.
• Blend classical geometry with learned perception to enhance robustness.
• Collaborate with AI, controls, and hardware teams to integrate navigation.
• Debug, test, and harden the stack for real-world field performance.

Skills

C++

Python

Localization & SLAM

Sensor fusion

Motion planning

Robotics software

Job description

Position Summary

You will own how our humanoid robots know where they are and move safely through the world. You\'ll build the navigation, localization, and mapping stack that lets a robot traverse a real industrial facility reliably—estimating its pose, understanding the structure of its environment, and planning safe paths through dynamic, cluttered spaces. This role blends classical, geometric methods with learned approaches, and you\'ll collaborate closely with the AI team to combine the best of both. Your work turns raw data from cameras, depth sensors, and LiDAR into a robot that can confidently get where it needs to go.

Core Responsibilities

• Localization & Mapping: Design and implement the localization and mapping stack—state estimation, SLAM, and sensor fusion—that keeps the robot accurately located in real environments.
• Navigation & Planning: Build path and motion planning for a mobile base moving through dynamic, cluttered, human-occupied industrial spaces, with safety and reliability as first-class concerns.
• Structured Perception: Develop perception that exploits the known structure of deployment environments—maps, fixtures, landmarks, and layout—to improve robustness and precision.
• Sensor Fusion: Fuse data across cameras, depth sensors, LiDAR, IMUs, and odometry into consistent, reliable estimates of pose and surroundings.
• Classical + Learned Methods: Combine geometric and model-based techniques with learned components, partnering with the AI team to integrate learned perception where it adds value.
• Robustness & Field Performance: Characterize and improve navigation and localization performance in the real world, debugging failures on deployed robots and hardening the stack against edge cases.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with the AI, controls, and hardware teams to define interfaces, calibrate sensors, and integrate navigation into the broader robot system.
  

Required Qualifications

• Navigation & Localization Expertise: Proven experience building localization, SLAM, or navigation systems for mobile robots deployed in the real world.
• State Estimation & Sensor Fusion: Strong grasp of probabilistic state estimation, filtering, optimization, and multi-sensor fusion.
• Robotics Software: Strong C++ and Python skills, with experience writing performant, reliable software for real robots.
• Geometry & Math: Deep working knowledge of 3D geometry, coordinate frames, transforms, and the math underlying SLAM and estimation.
• Multi-Sensor Experience: Hands-on experience with cameras, depth sensors, and LiDAR, including calibration and the practical realities of each.
• Motion Planning: Experience with path and motion planning for mobile platforms.
• Ownership: Track record of taking perception/navigation systems from design through deployment and field validation.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience combining classical methods with learned perception, and collaborating with ML teams.
• Familiarity with humanoid, legged, or other high-DOF mobile platforms.
• Experience with factory, warehouse, or other structured industrial environments.
• Background in sensor calibration (intrinsics/extrinsics, multi-sensor alignment, temporal sync).
• Exposure to real-time and safety-conscious system design.
  

Walden Robotics offers a competitive total compensation program, including salary, annual cash bonus, company equity, company-subsidized insurance programs, 401(k) with company match, flexible PTO, daily lunch, and other benefits. The pay ranges noted on our posts are for salary only.

Walden Robotics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [e-mail].

Walden Robotics participates in E-Verify. If you receive an offer of employment from Walden, you will need to go through the E-Verify process of digital verification of your employment authorization documents as provided on the Form I-9. Participation in E-Verify does not limit your right to work and verification will only be completed after you become

At Walden Robotics, we envision a world where general-purpose robots dramatically improve the quality of life for all people—supporting us at home, at work, in factories, on farms, and beyond. To accomplish this, we are building a team of exceptional professionals who combine world-class technical skills with creative vision, grounded in humility and collaboration.